Fruit transport device for pitting machines



April 21, 1953 I w. A. DoERlNG ET'AL FRUIT TRANSPORT DEVICE F OR FITTING+4 IN VEN TOR.

April 2l, 1953 w. AQBOERING Erm. 2,635,562

FRUIT TRANSPORT DEVICE EoRPITTING MACHINES Filed July 11, 1949s's'heets-'sh'et 2 INVENTORS: W/LMM DOfQ/NG MIL/4M c. zoe/wa April 21,1953 w. A. DoERlNG g-:TAL Y 2,535,662

FRUIT TRANSPORT DEVICE FOR PITTINGTMGHINES Filed July 11, 1949 55Sheets-'Sheet 5 mL/4M ,4. noce/N@ BY mL/4M le5. noa/WG www@ April 21,-1953 x w. A. bol-:Rm Em v'2,635,662'

FRUIT TRANSPORT DEVICE FOR FITTING MACHINES l Filed July 11; .1949 5'sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR. c WML/4u 4. noaa/NG mL/AM gaf/wa April 2l,1953 w. A. DoERlNG ETAL 42,'635,`5"(2v FRUIT TRANSPORT DEVICE FonPITTING MACHINES Filed July 11, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 0662655 ofeavowr/ofvf/ cva@ 0F mm/Na 360) Patented Apr. 21, 1953 vv52,635,662 jFRUIT TRANSPORT DEVICE Fon v'MACHINES rrr'rrne William A. ADoeringg/PaloAlto, and William E. Koenig, RedwoodA City, Calif., ,assignors -to S .&W Fine Foods, Inc., San Francisco, Calif., a corporationy of CaliforniaApplication July '11, 194.9, Serial No. 105,858 s The present inventionrelates-to. lfruititransport devices, and more particularly to a fruittransport device that can pickup and-transport a fruit in apredeterminedposition withrespect to the stem indent thereof.

VIn the processing vof indented fruit such as s claims.' (ci. 14e-1s)cherries, and particularly whenl the fruit isito be pitted, it is highlydesirable Vthat the .fruit be orientated so that the pitting operationVmay take place with a den'ite Arelation tothefruit indent. In the caseof cherries, it is .desirable that the pitting knife enter the blossom-endof the fruit to -force the pit out of the cherry through the pitindent area. In thsway aminimum amount of meat is removed with the pitand the shape and generalappearance of the fruit remain natural.

Cherries and other indented fruit can Vbe orientated with respect to thestem indent `by rotating the fruit in contact with an orientation memberwhich, when registry of this member with the stem indent occurs, entersthe indent toa sucient extent to act as aA deterrent to further fruitrotation. By placingtheorientation member in a predetermined ypositionthe fruit will stop rotating and will vremain in .a predeterminedposition so thatyit can bejpitted as desired. L

I One ofthe :most eiiicient vorientation.':members ofthe above describedtype isawheelrupon .which the indented vfruitrests while rotating,vrasterisernplined for `example ,by the structure shown; described andclaimedin the Carroll PatentNO, 2,220,511, issued .November 5, 1940. "Incases Where a wheel isused for fruit orientation, fhowever, 4withthefruit restingto somerextent .on the wheel, the wheel :willnormallylbexinithe way of a .pitting knife moved to force thepitnut:ofthe-fruit through the indent area. inconse-A quence, either the wheel(or other bottomtype orientation vmember when used) must. be vmovedawaykfrom theffl'ut. or thefruit must be moved. away from theorientation,"member4 by .a .gtr-ans-l port device-that will'picknpthezorientatedfruit, move it toa pitting location and `maintainjt inorientatedposition nduring the zpittingbperation.' The structure of4applicants specific :orienting means constitutes-.the subject ',vmatterof Patent No; 2,609,913. v `Among the :objects :.of theiipresenty.invention are; y y

Tov provide transporting 'fruit' `in Ia i predetermined position; Torprovidenayfruit itransport e device that awill pick iup, transport;and: dioldagruitgin afpre-cY determined position;

laVY `simple fmeans and i method kfot 2 :To providea fruit transport.device that will operate betweena fruit orientation device'rand a fruitpitting device t0` transport the fruit from one deviceto .theotherwithout disturbing the position of they fruit:

To provide a fruit transport device that Vcan hold fruitinapredetermined position while being transported, without encompassing orgripping the ',fruit;

.To provide Aa fruit transport device that will pick up a fruit withoutsubstantial position change of said-fruit;

Ic provide a fruit transport device that can pick up and removegfruitfrom a continuously moving carrier;

Toprovide -a means and method ofholding ,fruit in a predeterminedposition during pitting;

And to providea rapid and efficient means and method of transportingfruit. Y

In broad terms, the invention comprises a member .that is oscillatedAover a path'between two end positions. This `member has an `aperturedvertical face, and means are provided for creating a suction Aat thisaperture. Means are alsoprovided ,to present fruit tothe vertical faceof the member at one of the two end positions yso ythatthe fruit willbecome attached thereto bythe suction. The rfruit -is then transported,while soattaGhed, to the other of the two end positions where Vthe fruitis operated on Vby a fruit pitting device. After this operation andwhile the member is on the way back to the original end positionthereof, means are provided to terminate the suction so that the fruitwill drop orf the member before `a new fruit is picked up. In certaincases it may be desirable to substitute positive pressure for thenegative pressure to insure fruit removal. In either case, suction isreestablished before a new fruitis presented to the member.

The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to thedrawings, in which:

Figure lis a view` partly in section and -partly in elevation of a fruitorientating machine embodying a Vpreferred form of the presentinvention.

' Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view-of a carrier taken as indicated byline 2-4-2 in' Figure 1.

Figure 3 is'a topv viewtaken as indicated by line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is alongitudinal sectional yview taken as indicated vby line.f4- 4 in Figure :3, and ro., tated degreesclockwise. i.

., Figure 5 .is yan:enlargedlongitudinal:sectional viewrpf agpreferred`transfer;and pittingmechanism used in the machine shown in Figure 1.

g Figure is a front end view of the machinev structural support of themachine is a pair of 1 spaced upright steel plates In mounted on asubframe I I. If only a few parallel orientation rows are to be utilizedonly a single plate need beused.

However, if a larger number of rows are to be .Y

utilized, as in the machine illustrated, -then a plate I I! is used oneach side. Fruit, such as cherries, to be orientated,.are placed'inahopper -I 2-mounted on top of the side plates I- and pass through lowerhopper opening I4 to fall into fruit receptacles I5 on the periph-V eryof a feed drum I6 rotated counterclockwise, as shown in Figure i. Abrush I'I-mountedabove drum I6 is also rotatedv counterclockwise, andbears against the periphery of drum VIii as it rotates, and preventsfruit other than a single fruit in' receptaclesI from being carriedaround the drum. y v Y A stationary drum shell I8 is positioned aroundthe drum VI6 as the fruit is moved downwardly in receptacles I5, thisshell terminating just above a conveyor 2B so that fruit inthereceptacles I5 will drop into fruit receiving recesses 2I formed byseparate Vparts of the conveyor. In order that fruit that might not dropout of the drum receptacles I5 -beremoved before the receptacle arrivesback at hopper opening I4, each receptacle is provided with an ejectorpiston 22 that is'inoved outwardly by a cam l(not shown) to -force fruitinto a screw conveyor trough 24 a screw conveyor 25. This constructionis particularly valuable when `processing cherries, as

twinv fruit-s are apt to become forced into the receptacles I5 by theaction of brush I1 and thus do not readily drop out of receptacles I5 atthe end yoi* drum shell- I 8.V Y Each conveyor 2! comprises an endlesslink type vrchain 3i). Base blocks 3l (best shown in Figures 2 and 3)are rotatively connected to adjacent base links 32, these latter linksbeing connected by cross bar links 33. In the multiple carrier machinerone cross bar link connects'two base links. At a point just below thetermination of drum shell VI8 each chain 3!! passes upwardly over anidling sprocket 34 (Figure '1)' andthen onto a pair of spaced,horizontal 'slide bars 36 bearing on the bottoms of baseblocks 3l, asshown in Figures 2 and 5. Each chain 30 runs a short distancehorizontallyl over slide bars 3G and then breaks sharply around smallrollers 3l' to cause anabrupt downward shiftof chain path. Afterpassingover roller 3'Il each chain passes over a guide plate 38, andthen drops by gravity until it rises to pass again around idlingsprocket v34. l Cross bar links 33 are bridged by vertically extending,crossbars 40 having front and rear fiat, sloping surfaces 4I and 42respectively, these cross bars extending at-right angles to theconveyorpath. Thus the cross bars each form' theV d front of one recess and therear of the preceding recess.

Each conveyor chain 38 is progressed by an overhead drive gear 53mounted on gear shaft 5I extending through the side plates I5, the teeth52 on gears 53 meshing with chains 3c between exterior links 32.

Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, as the conveyor 20 is progressed,orientation of the fruit in the compositerecesses is accomplished by awheel"55 h'avinga serrated edge positioned in 'each base block 3i, tohave the wheel periphery extend above the bottom level of the associatedrecess, thevwheel entering the recess through slot 56 in a base block3i. Wheel 55 is mounted on a iioating shaft 58; this shaft being free tomove vertically in, a shaft slot Si?. The lower periphery of the wheel55 extends below the level of the base block 3| through slot 5E tocontact a driving belt 6 best shown in Figure fi. Belts'I arevmounted onfore and ait pulleys 62 and 63, respectively, and extend from the fruitloading position to a point just below drive gear 5D so that belts 5Icontact all wheels in all recesses that are on the slide bars 36, exceptthe recesses that are about to pass around roller 31. `As theorientation recesses 2i pass over the slide bars 3s the wheels 55 arerotated by the moving belt, preferably counterclockwise, so that thethrust of the rotating fruit C is taken by the front 'surface M of eachcross bar, thereby placing the cherry C rearwardly in each recess, asshown in Figure 4.

As stated above, as each recess reaches a roller 37, the chains 35startV abruptly downward as shown best in Figure 5. This abrupt changein chain ang-le places the cross -bar of the recess that has passedaround the apex of the guide plate 38 completely below and away from theremainder of the following recess, while the base block of this latterrecess is still horizontal. This horizontal position is the fruitremoval position of each recess,'and if desired the teeth 52 of drivinggear '50 can be Yspaced to permit the recess to have a slight dwell inthis position for fruit removal, although a pronounced intermittentmotion is notnecessary, and a continuous drive is permissible. y

Certain types of cherries may have a relatively high percentage offruit'that are elongated along the indent-tip axis. These fruit tend toassume a more or less stable position while being rotated bythe wheel 55with the indent-tip axis at a right angle to the plane of the wheel.When this happens the fruit is not generally orientated properly in thetime allotted for orientation. Consequently, it may be desirable toprovide means associated with the recesses to turn elongated fruit thatis rotating in the above described Vmanner so that elongated Afruit canbe I properly orientated within the allotted time.

This can be accomplished by providing relative movement between thesides of the recesses and the remainder of the recesses. The cross bars40 do not haver recess sides attached to them. Instead, the recess sidesare stationary side bars 12 extended downwardly from a side bar frame'I3 positioned abovethe conveyor, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3. Eachstationary side bar 12 is provided with laterally extending turning ribs14, the inner surfaces of these ribs being sloped, the side bars I2 notbeing sloped between the ribs. Ribs 'I4 are oppositely spaced to dennesides of the recess normally permitting a cherry to'pass throughunobstructed if spherical but to-'touchfandturn an elongated cherry whenrotating on the wheel :with the vinder'it-tip"aids crsswise intherecess. The turning actioniof the ribs 14 thus disturbs the stableposition of the cherry s that 'it is more readily-orientated whenelongated, and this `type of a conveyor, with `only wheelcarrying baseblocks 3| and the cross bars 40 being progressed `between stationarysides', has been found to very materially-increase the orientationpercentage of velongated lfruit therein. f Y

'1 'It should, however, be pointed Vout fianet-side bars 12 do notnecessarily have to be stationary; Theycan be moved or `oscillated*along the-con veyorline if desired. `It is-desirablefonly that relative'motionbe achieved between the'conveyor andthe sidebars 12 in order thatf-a high per centage of orientation be' obtained'withelongated Inaccordance with the present linvention,ha

fruit f transport and.. pittingy mechanism. suitable for handlingfruitorientated-by the device so far `described is shown vin Figures 1 and5.--best shown in Figure 5. Each side plate |-0 is providedWith'ahorizontalslot 8D in which a transfer bar 3| v is reciprocated.The `slot 80 extends 0from apoint near lthe position of arecess openedfor fruit transport, to fa pitting station, and transfer barlsi-carriesa hollow vacuum pickeup tube 82 extending toward the conveyor2|land terminating ina flared end 83vfacing thel opening recess 2|.Transfer bar 8| is movable along slot 80 to place ared end 83 of rpickuptube 82 in a position Where it will closely approach or contact the sideof afruit resting in the opened recess during its slight dwell in thisposition `This position is indicated by the broken line -P in Figure 5.At this point vacuum is applied to tube 82 and the fruit is4 attachedbyrsuction to the. flared end 83 of pickup tube 82. Transfer bar 8| thenmoves to the oppositefend of its stroke in slot V80 to place the fruitover a pitting rubber 85 having a central pitI aperture 86 therein, thisrubber being held on an anvil bar 81., A pitting knife 88 isreciprocated vertically, 'being held in knifel frame 89, this Vknifepassing througna stripper plate 98, then throughthe fruit to4 force thepit ofthe .fruit throughthe aperture 86 .in rubber -85 to pass throughapit duct 9 l in pitting frame 81 to land .on a pit plate 92, aided 4inpassage by water from pipe 93 connectedto manifold 93a.

Pitplate 92 is provided witha forward pit discharge opening 93h normallycovered vby the bottom of a` selector slide 94 reciprocable in ahorizontal plane.

The selector slide 94 (asshown in Figure '7) comprises an aperturedbottom 96, sides 91 upright'gate actuator arm 98, and a female comb 99and slides freely over pit plate 92, being moved directly toward theconveyor by male comb |08 attached to selectorbar 95 contacting uprightgate actuator 'arm 98.. Selector bar 95'is reciprocated in a horizontalplaneby a Inechanisniyet lto be described, andfhas a pit passage 95a`ltherein forming acontinuation of pit'duettn selector lectorv slide191|,- extends upwardly to contact the bottom of an angularly Vdisposedgate |06 hinged'- at yits upper edge and sloping downwardly,r thiscontact being made inside of` hook 198 mounted onA gate |85. With theselector yslide 94`inits forward position, i. e., toward the conveyor,the gate |05 `forms a path between a Vfixed `front channel plate |61 anda' iixed rear channel plate v|08 into an unpitted fruit chute |69.Whenthe selector slide 94 is moved to the rear by Ya. pit l-UI, beingcaught'between combs gaand 10E,- gate H15 swings downwardly to open apath into apitted'f'ruit chute itat the-rear'oi rear channel-'plate its.Frontchannelplate |01 is spaced' from 'the conveyor a suiiicientdistance so'that fruit not picked'up by pickup 'tube 32 will fall infront of a front channel plate it? into a chute II for unpicked-upfruit.

lMale comb 'lilo `connected yto selectorbarwil is sloped rearwardl'yandupwardly, so that on the rearward stroke of selector bar 95 (shown bybroken' line fs, in rear position), the -pit'.is forced downwardlythrough the pit discharge opening 93o inV pit plate 92 lto fall intoal-Dit chute H4. The unpitted fruit, the pitted fruit,- and the pitsfall on separate portions of anoutput conveyor ist through theirrespective'chutes, as shown in Figure 1. y

The output is conveyed laterally, separateny collected, and disposedvofin-a manner-in keeping with the character of the collected material.

Clearance for fruit transported by the pickup tube 82 from theopenedrecess at the transport position, and for unobstructed deposit on thepitting rubber, is provided. V'Itwill benoted, as pointed out above,that just before the recess to be 'opened reaches'the transportposition, the belt drive `for the `whee ceases, due to the Vbelt 6|passing around i' the rear 'pulley 63. vVtfheh this happens, the vwheel55, being 'free to drop under the 'urge of gravity, does so, so thatwhen the `fruit is moved along the bottom of the rea cess, the wheel Aisno longer projecting above the bottom. 'This action of the wheel'l'spre#vents th'e'fruit from being rocked on thei'iared l end '83 of thepickup'tubete as it starts -inoving 9 5. "Thus, whether or not theselector lslide 94 will 'moveaway from the conveyor ydepends uponViighether or not there is ampt rst'ingzonjlpit plate'92.

LILA.: .l

away from the opened recess.

Similarly, as the pitting rubber is concave; kit isdesirable to lowerthe rubber as the'fruit y. approaches, the rubber, and? then raise therub ber as the cherry is directly over it, at the 'rear ofthe pickuptube travel. This is yaccompl-ished by reciprocating the anvil bar 87vertically :in timed relation to the stroke of the transport bar 8| kbya suincient distance so that the fruit will be Atransported withoutinterferencef'froni rubbe1 85,' and 'yet will be formally seated on ltherubber when the pitting knife te passes down warolly throughthe fruit topit the fruit.' TheV driving vmechanism for a"'multiplerow machine isshown in Figures l, 8, egand'io. Re ferr-ing first toFigure lo, a motorH, preferably having a `built-ih gear reductionunit, ispcsik tioned Von'subiranno il' and drivesamain shaft I "through 'a multiple 'belt'tii'Mainvshaft Vic "extends through both side plates it 'belowthep'ittingrneohanisin, and is used to drive 'cams positioned adjacentboth side plates, As shown in Figure 1,'inounted onimaiii "shaft "|29just inside of plates le, is a selector cam |22 having a selector camfollower |23 vmount-,ed on a follower arm lSa extending Vlfiorzohtallyto be attached to agenerally vertical selector level;

' The top of selector lever |24 is attached to selector bar 95 by anadjustable link |25. Thus, the selector bar is reciprocated to provideselection and segregation of the pitted cherries, by directing thepitted fruit into the pitted fruit chute ||0.

Mounted just outside of each side plate l on main shaft |20 is acomposite cam |26 (Figures Band 9) in one groove l26a of which ahorlzontal transfer follower |21 operates, the latter being attached toa horizontal follower arm l26b operating a vacuum transfer lever |28,the top of which is adjustably connected through transfer link |29, tothe vacuum transfer bar 8|, operating in slot 80 in the side plates l0,so that the pickup tubes 82 are reciprocated to transfer the fruit fromthe opened recess to the pitting rubber 85.

On composite cams |26, just outside of each vacuum transfer groove l26a,a pittingr cam groove |30 has a pitting cam follower |3l bearingthereagainst attached to an upright pitting link Vl3la, the upper endsof which are attached to pitter bar 88 to which knife frame 89 isfastened. Thus, the pitting knives are reciprocated.

v Between each composite cam |26 and plates l0 ls an anvil bar cam |40(Figure 10), the peripheries of which are contoured to an anvil barfollower ll' (Figures 8 and 9). Anvil bar follower |4l is attached to agenerally horizontal follower arm l4la, medially pivoted on a followerpivot |42, with one end attached to anvil bar 81 through plates l0.IThus, the anvil bar 81 is raised and lowered as fruit transfer istaking place.

Preferably on one in Figure 8, the outer end of main shaft |20 isprovided with lower worm gears |65 driving a rising worm shaft |46terminating in upper worm gears |41 driving the gear shaft 5l to whichorientator conveyor drive gears 50 are attached. Orientator gear shaft5l is also provided on one side only (see Figure 8) with a drum drivepulley A.|50 connected by drum drive belt l5| to a drum shaft pulley |52mounted on a drum shaft |53 on which feed drum lli is mounted (seeFigures 1 and 5). t

Alongside of drum drive pulley |50 ls a screw conveyor drive pulley |54which, through a screw conveyor belt |55, drives a screw conveyor drivenpulley |56 attached to a'screw conveyor shaft |51 on which screwconveyor 25 is rotated in trough 24 (see Figurel). y

On the opposite side plate lil (see Figure 9) brush |1 is rotated byupper brush gears |60, brush shaft |6| and lower brush gears |62, thelatter being rotated by a brush belt |83 passing over main shaft brushpulley |64.

The wheel drive belts 6| are rotated by a large wheel drive pulley |10on the outer end of main shaft |20, a wheel drive main belt l1l passingaround the large wheel drive pulley |10 and then around a small wheeldrive pulley |12 mounted on a wheel belt shaft |13 on which are mountedthe rear wheel belt pulleys 63 which progress the wheel belts 6|. Frontwheel belt pulleys 62 are rotated by cross belt |14 rotating frontpulley shaft |15 (see Figure 9).

As best shown in Figure 1 the vacuum for the pickup tubes 82 is underthe control of a vacuum valve |80 operated by one end of a valve lever|8l pivoted on a lever bracket |82. The other end of valve lever l8l isa lever follower |82 `side plate l0 only, as shown or not the pit hasbeen removed from shaft |20. 'Valve y|80 is connected to a-vacuum pump(not shown) by vacuum line |84, andto a source of compressed air (notshown) by air line |85. The outlet of the valve is connected to aflexible hose connected to a manifold |86 inside the vacuum transfer bar8l, as shown in Figure 5, to Ywhich the interior of the pickup tubes v82are connected. The valve, when the main shaft |20 is rotated, thuscauses alternate reduction and increase in pressure to take place in thetransfer bar manifold |86. The vacuum pump is to have Sufcient capacityto have one pickup tube 82 pick up a cherry even though all other`pickup tubes are open to the atmosphere.`

' In the operation of the machine, the motor l |9 is started and fruitsuch as cherries to be pitted are placed in hopper I2 from which thecherries pass individually into the receptacles l5 in the rotating drumI6. Brush l1 insures that only one fruit is in each aperture and that nofruit is jammed between drum |6 and the stationary drum shell l`8. Thefruit is then carried downwardly by the receptacles |6 to drop into eachfruit receiving recess 2l as it arrives at the beginning of thehorizontal path of the conveyor. The composite recesses move over thewheel drive belt 6l as the conveyor progresses, the wheels 35 rotate,and the cherries are rotated in the recesses until the stem indent tsover the wheel and ceases to rotate or until each wheel drops out of therecess as the wheels pass off from the belt just prior` to the transferposition.

At the transfer position the cross bar 40 adjacent the sharp bend in theconveyor path passes around this bend, leaving the remainder of therecess undisturbed with the majority of the cherries restingin'pro'perly orientated position on the base blocks 3l.

At this time, the fiared end 83v of the pickup tube 82 is presented tothe side of the cherry, this end moving to a position where it will`closely approach or Contact theside of a cherry. If the tube touches thecherry, the suction attaches'the cherry to the pickup tube. this tubeonly closely approaches the side of the cherry without touching it, theair rushing into the tube causes the' cherry to move slightly to attachitself to the tube; The cherry is then withdrawn from the recess, ifpicked up, and transported on the end of tube 82 to the pittingmechanism. If not picked up, the fruit is carried around the bend andfalls by gravity into the non-pickup chute lll. The progression of theopened recess around the bend opens the next recess and the pickup cycleis repeated.

As the cherry approaches the pitting mechanism on the end of pickup tube82, the anvil bar 81 drops to permit passage of the cherry. then risesbeneath it to seat the cherry on the pitting rubber 85 as the pit isforced out of the cherry and through the hole in the pitting rubber toland on the pit plate 92 aided by water from manifold 93a. The s electorslide 94 then operates to control the position of gate |05 so that afterthe pitting knife 88 clears the fruit on the upward stroke, and thepickup tube 82 starts toward the conveyor again the cherry is pushed andblown by compressed air off the anvil bar 81 and pickup tube 82 to fallinto which ever chute Ythe gate |05 has left open, according to whetherthe cher being discharged. ry

However, all of the moving parts of the machine must be properly timedin order that the bearing on a lever cam |83 mounted on main 75 lropersequence of operation be obtained. One

Even if the end of timing sequence found. satisfactory Ais shown -in4the chart of Figure 1l. -v y 1; Here the cycle is shown of oneompleterevolution (360') ofthe main 'shaft iandits associated cams invterms ofinches of travel. The cycle has been shown to start just priorto pitting, with the anvil bar 81 up, as shown by line A on the chart;with'the selector bar 95 stationary, as shown by line B on the chart;with lthe vacuum transfer bar 8i stationary as indiv .cated byl lineC;and with the pitting knife-88 moving downwardly as shown by line D. Y

The vacuum valve |80 is providing maximum negative pressure (suction) atall times except between points a: and y on line c, where'com.- pressedair is injected into tubes 82 through valve 180. 1

As the cycle proceeds, the pitting knife t8 reaches its full downwardstroke at about-30 and starts back upwardly to become, stationary atabout 75. Just prior to this point, at about 70, the-selector bar 95starts moving, andthe .anvil bar '8i drops. v.ils the anvil bar drops,the lvacuum transfer bari moves'the. pitted, cherry back towardtheconveyor and pushes it off the pitting rubber 85- and anvil bar 8?. Atthe same time suction is shut off and asV the cherry is moved towardgate H15 it is blown'oif the end of pickup tube 82. In the meantime, theselector bar 95 has moved suiliciently to positiongate W in accordancewith the vpresence or'absence of a pit on pit plate 92. Thus, the`cherry is properly segregated in accordance'with the result of theaction of the pitting'knife.

They vacuum transfer bar 8i then continues to move toward 'the'conveyor, and the selector bar '35 moves `backto discharge the pit,`ifpresent, into pit chute H4. The selector bar then remains stationaryuntil the next cycle. 'At 160 vvacuum is reestablished in thel pickuptubes 32.

At about l 90,thevacuum transfer bar 8l reaches the conveyor end of itsstroke, and pickup tube 82 isV inserted into the opened fruitorientation recess now at the end of the horizontal path of theconveyor, to pick up a cherry in the recess. They direction of thevacuum transfer bar then reverses and the-bar starts back toward theanvil bar 87 at the same speed as the recess is being progressed by thecarrier. During this synchronous travel the cherry sticks to the flaredg end 83 of the pickup tube. Themotionoffthe transfer bar 8l is thenspeeded; up to.. transport -the cherry to a-point just above the pittingrubber B5, stopping there atabout 338. Theanvil bar 81 then immediatelyrises under thefiuit,

and the pitting knife 88 starts down at' about 345. The cycle is thenrepeated.` i

Thus, each part is connected to give its prope motion when the vmainshaft is rotated. In one particular embodiment .of the device foundpracticaland highly satisfactory for the orientation and pitting ofcherries, the stroke of the vacuum transfer bar 8| is six incheshorizontally, the pitting knife 88 has a 11/2 inch vertical stroke, theanvil bar 8'! a vertical stroke of a inch, and the selector bar 95 isgiven a horizontal stroke of three inches, all as indicated in Figure11.

Thus, with 48 R. P. M. of the main shaft. in one particular embodiment,for example, 48 cherries can be pitted per minute in each carrier row,and with 20 carrier rows, QSO cherries per minute is the completeoutput. Higher speeds are possible if the fruit is fully graded.

The percentage of orientation in. the machine described is high, and thefruit is sorted into four groups: -noneloading fruit, mostly. .twins,lfrom the drumejectors; fruit not .picked up by. the transfer mechanism;unpitted fruit, and .the de: sired properly pitted fruit. The overall fper-- centage of the latter will, of course, depend upon Athe quality ofthe fruit being processed but can be counted on to contain a very highpercentage .(well over 90%) of all the fruit physically suitable forproper loading, orientation and pitting. Manyvruns have been madeaveraging over 7 overall orientated and pitted cherries. From the abovedescription it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device ofthe character described possessing the particular features of advantagebefore enumerated as desirable, but which obviouslyy is susceptible ofmodication in'its form, proportions, detail construction and'arrangementof parts without departing fromthe principle involvedor sacrificing anyof its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has beendescribed. inxlanguage more or less specic asptostruotural features,itis to be understood that the invention is' notlimited toA the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and'constructionherein disclosedcomprise the preferredformof putting the invention into effect, and theinvention is, therefore, claimed in any of' its forms or modicationsWithin' the legitimate and' valid scopeof the 'appended claims. 4

What is claimed is: '1. Means for transporting a fruit comprising acarrier adapted to be progressed along a horizontal path, a plurality ofwalls forming fruitr'e- 'cesses mounted on said carrier, means operatingto orient fruit Vin said recesses, while said recesses are on saidhorizontal path, means for opening the forward wall of each of saidrecesses as each -recess reachesa predetermined position on said ingsuction at saidaperture to attach said vfruit to said member.

2'. Means for transporting a fruit comprising a carrierl adapted to be'progressed along a horizontal path, a plurality of Walls forming fruitrecesses mounted on said carrier, means operating to orientate fruit insaid recesses, while said recesses I are'- onY said horizontal path,means for yopening the forward wall of each of saidrecesses -as eachrecessreaches a predetermined position vonvsaid path, a fruit contactingmember having an aperture therein, means for reciprocating said memberover a horizontal path in alignment with 'said rst mentioned horizontalpath to place .the

edges of said aperture in contact with 'the 'forward surface of a fruitin an opened recess at one end of the stroke of said member, means forproducing suction at said aperture to attach said fruit to said member,and means for timing the recipirocation of said member to present saidaperture to each fruit as said recess walls are opened.

3. Means for transporting a fruit comprising a carrier adapted to beprogressed along a horiaontal path, a plurality of walls forming fruitrecesses mounted on said carrier, means operating to orientate fruit insaid recesses, while said recesses are on said horizontal path, meansfor openingthe forward wall of each of said recesses as each recessreaches a predetermined position on said path, a fruit contacting memberhaving an aperture therein, means for reciprocating said member over ahorizontal path in alignment with said iirst mentioned horizontal pathto place the edges of said aperture in contact with the forward surfaceof a fruit in an opened recess at one end of the stroke of said member,means for producing suction at said aperture to attach said fruitto'said member, means for timing the reciprocation of said member topresent said aperture to each fruit as said recess walls are opened, andmeans for removing one fruit from said aperture before said aperture ispresented to a succeeding fruit.` f 4.' Means for transporting avfruitcomprising a carrier adapted to `be'progressed along a horizontal path,a plurality'of walls' forming fruit recesses mounted on said carrier,meansoperating to orientate fruit in said recesses, While said re cessesare on said horizontal path, means for opening the forward wall of eachof-said recesses as each recess reaches a'predeterminedposition on saidpath, a fruit contacting member having an aperture therein, meansvforreciprocating said member over a horizontal path in alignment withsaid first mentioned horizontal path to place the edges of saidaperturein contact with the forwardsurface of a fruit in an openedrecess at one endY of the stroke'of said member, means for producingsuction at said aperture to attach said fruit to said member, means fortiming the reciprocation of said member tovpresent said aperture to eachfruit as said recess walls are opened, means for pitting a fruit whilestill attached to said member by said suction at the other end of thestroke thereof, and a fruit supporting element, means connected tomovesaid fruit supporting element upwardly to a position beneath a fruitimmediately prior to' operation of `said pitting means, and to move saidfruit supporting element downwardly away from said fruit after operationof said pitting means, said fruit supporting element having a concaveupper surface, the movement of said element being suicient to clear saidfruit during horizontal movement thereof by said member, means forsubstituting positive pressure for said suction after said fruit hasbeen pitted. 1

5. Means for transporting a fruit for pitting comprising a fruit supporthaving a concave upper surface with a pitting aperture therein, a fruitpitting knife, means for moving said knife toward said support to forcea pit from a fruit on said support through said pitting aperture, afruit transfer member, means for reciprocating said transfer memberhorizontally between two points, said member having a vertical facethereon including a suction inlet, means for producing suction at saidinlet when said member is adjacent one of said points, means for placingfruit in a position to be picked up by the suction of said inlet forattachment to said member, the other of said points placing said fruitdirectly over and substantially in contact with said pitting aperture,and means for moving said fruit support upwardly immediately prior tothe operation of said pitting knife, and for moving said supportdownwardly after operation of said pitting knife.

6. Means for transporting a fruit comprising a plurality of wallsforming a fruit recess means operating to orientate fruit in saidrecesses, means for opening a wall of said recess, a fruit contactingmember having an aperture therein, means for reciprocating said memberover a horizontal path and through the opening in said opened wall toplace the edges of said aperture in contact with a lateral surface of afruit in the opened recess at one end of the stroke of said member, andmeans for producing suction at said aperture to attach said fruit tosaid member.

7. 'Means for transporting a fruit comprising a plurality of wallsforming a fruit recess, means operating to orientate fruit in saidrecess, means for opening the forward wall of said recess at apredetermined time, a fruit contacting member having an aperturetherein, means for reciprocating said member over a horizontal path andthrough the opening in said opened wall to place the edges of saidaperture in contact with a lateral surface of a fruit in the openedrecess at one end of the vstroke of said member, means for producingsuction at said aperture to attach said fruit to said member, and meansfor timing the reciprocationof vsaid member to present said aperture tosaid fruit as said recess Wall is opened.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said fruit supportingelement is a receptacle 0f resilient -material having said concave uppersurface thereon, together with a central aperture in linewith themovement of saidpitting means, whereby during operation of said pittingmeans the pit of a fruit is forced through said central aperture.

WILLIAM A. DOERING. v WILLIAM E. KOENIG.

References Cited in the i'lleof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 807,541 Cunningham Dec. 19, 1905 1,304,892 Leefeld May 27,1919 1,498,078 Duncan June 17, 1924 1,904,720 Douglass Apr. 18, 19332,040,114 Watkins May 12, 1936 2,208,474 Carroll July 16, 1940 2,247,787Schmidt July 1, 1941 2,308,039 Ashlock, Jr Jan. l2, 1943 2,413,861Carroll Jan. 7, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 625,009 FranceApr. 19, 1927

